Tennis Release #15
April 30, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
NCAA Men's Bracket
NCAA Women's Bracket
The Cleveland State University men will face the Ohio State University Buckeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships, while the University of Illinois at Chicago women will take on the top-seeded Northwestern Wildcats. Both matches will be played on May 9, with specific starting times to be announced at a later date.
The Vikings defeated UIC last week to earn their first-ever Horizon League title and the automatic berth into the NCAA Championships. The Buckeyes are the No. 2 overall seed and boast a 32-1 record this season after defeating Illinois in the Big Ten Championship. Cleveland State and Ohio State met earlier this season, with the Buckeyes defeating the Vikings, 7-0.
On the women's side, the Flames will meet cross-town rival Northwestern in its first round match after UIC clinched its 12th-straight Horizon League championship. The Wildcats defeated Michigan to earn their 10th-consecutive Big Ten title and secure the top seed for the NCAA Championship.
First- and second-round competition will be conducted May 9-10 with the winner of each site advancing to the NCAA Divison I Men's and Women's Tennis Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, hosted by the University of Tulsa. The team championships will be held May 16-20. For more information, visit www.ncaa.com.
CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Cleveland State Men, UIC Women Earn titles at 2008 Horizon League Tennis Championships
The 2008 Horizon League Tennis Championship concluded Sunday afternoon as the Cleveland State University men and University of Illinois at Chicago women were crowned champions. It was the Vikings first appearance in the finals and their first title in school history, while the Flames claimed the League title for 12th-consecutive year.
In the men's championship match, Cleveland State picked up the doubles point against UIC, and eventually pulled away with the 4-1 victory. Behind League Player of the Year Phil Orno's 19-match winning streak at No. 1 singles, the Vikings had the momentum they needed to defeat the Flames. UIC's lone point came as sophomore Sebastian Lystad took down Brad Groleski at the No. 3 position (6-3, 6-2). After Orno defeated UIC's Adriano Liccardo (6-2, 6-0) at the No. 1 slot, Rob West triumphed over Sean Kreymborg at No. 6 ( 6-2, 7-6(3)) and Rob Fox clinched the match with his victory over Danny Wilson at No. 5 (6-2, 6-3).
On the women's side, there was a lot of suspense built up in the doubles and singles matches. UIC came away with the doubles point after Newcomer and Player of the Year Ilinca Cristescu teamed with Jenna Reisch at No. 3, while First Team All-Leaguers Lubica Nadasska and Kristen McPhillips were victorious at No. 1. The Bulldogs continued to fight through their singles matches, bringing the match to a 3-3 tie before Nadasska clinched the championship at No. 2, defeating First-Team All-League freshman Natali Jaimes (6-2, 6-3). Cristescu and McPhillips also won at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively, while Butler's Becky Jenkins, Tiffany McLoughlin and Michelle Hawes won at Nos. 4, 5, and 6.
In men's consolation action, Valparaiso secured fifth-place by edging Wright State 4-3. That match came down to a fierce battle between top singles players Alex Lau of Valpo and Tony Teufel of Wright State, with Lau clinching the match for the Crusaders with his 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 victory. Butler topped Green Bay 4-0 to place third as the Bulldogs bounced back from their disappointing loss to UIC in the semifinals.
For the women, Detroit edged out Cleveland State 4-3 to claim third-place as First-Team All-League player Zeljka Minic had big wins at both No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. Sixth-seeded Milwaukee came away with the fifth-place victory against No. 8 Green Bay, 4-0, while fifth-seeded Youngstown State and No. 7 Wright State pressed on for nearly four hours in the seventh-place match, with the Penguins emerging victorious (4-2).
